Banhwich is a Bargain

When we first posted the poll for this week’s restaurant choices, Anna and I assumed we would end up at Amu Manu Ramen Bar.  In the first two days the poll was live, our assumptions were right.  However, Anna tweeted about the blog, and Banhwich retweeted us!  Within hours, Banhwich had received nearly 3x the amount of votes as the rest of the options.  Talk about the power of social media.  So, we went to Banhwich and were blown away!

Food

Anna's Grilled Pork Bánh Mí

Anna - 10

I’m starting to think I’m not being harsh enough because I keep giving tens out for food.  But I loved this so much, and I couldn’t think of one thing I would switch.  I got the grilled pork bánh mí.  The pork was covered in a lemongrass sauce and topped with cilantro, pickled daikon, cucumber, and pickled carrots.  It was served on a baguette with an aioli spread, and there were jalapeños on the side for those who like a little added heat (not me).  OMG WOW.  The baguette had such an nice crunch to it and the flavors were so diverse.  The cucumbers and cilantro added a nice freshness, and the pickled veggies were a little more acidic and sour.  I began to to notice a subtle heat building after I had about half of my sandwich that was also nice.  Determined to go back and get the bubble tea and green waffles.

Sarah's Meat Ball Sub

Sarah - 8

I am not an adventurous eater, AT ALL, so this was a risky dinner for me to attend.  I’m a Jimmy Johns, Runza and Canes die-hard, so I knew that branching out for this blog was inevitable.  I definitely went in with low expectations simply because I was nervous about trying a new type of food.  I ended up ordering the Vietnamese Meat Ball (more adventurous than Anna this week!).  It was a pork meatball cooked in a light tomato sauce with a hint of garlic and soy.  Like Anna’s, mine was topped with an aioli spread, pickled daikon, cucumber, and pickled carrots.  I was a little disappointed in the meatballs because I didn’t feel as though they were saucy at all.  I also thought there were a little too many veggies.  It wasn’t hard to pick off the extra toppings that I didn’t want, but at the same time, it all tasted much better than I was expecting!  

Price

Anna - 10

Anytime I can eat for under five bucks, I feel so accomplished.  And I was able to do that!  Almost all of the sandwich options were under five dollars.  The best part was that I felt full after eating just one half of the sandwich.  So really I got two meals for under 5 bucks.  What a steal.  I felt as though the quality of the ingredients was also really high, so it’s definitely a gem for college students on a budget.

Sarah - 10

Seriously, like Anna said, dinner for less than $5 is such a great deal for college kids.  I brought my boyfriend Zach along for dinner, so we paid for two orders.  The total for the both of us to eat dinner was just over $9.  I took half of my sandwich home, so it was an even better deal!  We could have added chips and a drink for a very reasonable additional cost, but felt as though we just wanted some sandwiches.

Service

Anna - 10

You can tell the staff there is great.  They took our orders quickly, and brought our food to us even though there’s a sign for a “pick up” area.  It was freaky fast, and it all got to us at the same time, unlike last week.  As we were leaving multiple people said thank you to us.  

Sarah - 10

I was worried that by going into a restaurant like this (not American food like I eat 99.7% of the time), there was going to be a language barrier with the staff.  I was very pleasantly surprised.  I couldn’t decide between a spicy chicken or meatball sub and was asking how spicy the ‘spicy’ was.  The cashier gave his honest opinion and laughed at me when I ended up choosing the meatball sub anyway.  It was great.  Like Anna said, there was a pick-up counter for subs but one of the cooks brought it out to us!  How cool.

Atmosphere

Anna - 10

I realized I agreed to a time for dinner that was during game two of the World Series.  I’m a huge fan of the Kansas City Royals, and I almost asked Sarah if we could go earlier, but I decided that was a little ridiculous.  There was one TV in the restaurant, and it had the game on it!  It was a wonderful surprise, and I was so happy I was able to keep watching.  But other than that, the space was really bright with fun pops of orange, so it was definitely a happy place to be.

Sarah - 7

I really think the only aspect of this restaurant that was a little bothersome was the fact that it wasn’t the cleanest.  The table was a little sticky, and there was a fruit fly that was buzzing around us the entire time we ate our meal.  Aside from that, the restaurant was updated and modern and the music playing in the background was soft enough for us to have a quiet conversation.

Convenience of Location

Anna - 7

The location is really close to campus so for those who live nearby, it’s very convenient.  I live close to campus but in the opposite direction. So it’s about a 15 minute drive for me to get there, but it’s good food so it may be worth it.

Sarah - 7

I loved the fact that Banhwich was so close to campus.  Even when we left campus, I wasn’t exactly sure where it was, and was pleasantly surprised to see just how close it really was.  We went when it was already dark and the restaurant isn’t in the nicest area of Lincoln.  I definitely wouldn’t just swing through alone on a dark night.  Convenience was great, but the feel of the location was a little unsettling.

Zach:

Food - 6

Price - 10

Service - 10

Atmosphere - 9

Convenience of Location - 8

Average: 8.8

Where Should We Get Asian Food?

We're feeling a bit adventurous this week! Help us decide which Asian cuisine we should test this week.

Banhwich Cafe

With 17 different styles sandwiches from Chinese to Thai, Vietnamese to Korean, Banhwich Cafe is sure to have something for everyone. Though it is a small specialty cafe, the prices are reasonable. Banhwich Cafe is located on 26th and W Streets, situated between UNL's City Campus and East Campus, minutes from both locations.

Issara

Although Blue Orchid isn't on the menu for this week, Issara Modern Asian Cuisine came about from the same managers and owners. Issara offers tastes of Thai, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean. Issara is only open during meal times and closes each afternoon from 2 until 4:30 when it reopens for dinner. Their happy hour is from 4:30-6, a great way to try many types of food for a lesser cost.

Kinja

Located on the corner of 70th and Pioneers, Kinja is a bit of a drive from campus, though for some great sushi, it is worth the drive. With fantastic lunch-time specials, Kinja is a great alternative away from the two sushi options in the Haymarket.

Shen Cafe

Shen Cafe was started back in 2013 and features fresh ingredients served in a fast-casual environment. Strictly a Chinese restaurant, Shen Cafe is located at 34th and Old Cheney, in the Williamsburg Village. Even though it was closed on Tuesdays for a short time, the restaurant is now open 7 days a week thanks to popular demand.

Amu Manu Ramen Bar

The only item on our list this week that is located downtown, Amu Manu Ramen Bar, is a new edition to Downtown Lincoln. It opened in 2014 and has been a success so far. Rather than offering the typical cheap "college food" that the name "ramen" suggests, Amu Manu creates artwork around the Asian noodles.

Como Se...Eh

Thanks to all of our voters last week!  You wanted Como Se Taco, and we were happy to try it out.  But we were just a little disappointed in the end.  Check out the rankings below.

Sarah's Taco and Chips

Food

Sarah - 6

Leading up to our adventure out to Como Se Taco, I was telling people all day that it was going to be some freaking amazing food.  And I can’t tell you how disappointed I was.  I have eaten at a couple other restaurants that are similar (Voodoo Taco, you got my heart), and this one was severely disappointing.  It was good food, don’t get me wrong, but I was expecting to have my socks blown off.  They weren’t.  I ordered a Plain Jane taco and some house salsa and chips.  Even though it was a “boring” entree, it was pretty good, just not “wow-ing” as I was expecting.  The taco consisted of white rice (I do LOVE when tacos have rice), chicken, lettuce, monterey cheese, and a salsa-sour cream mixture.  The salsa was fairly onion- and garlic-y and left my breath smelling as such until the next day after lunch (after three teeth brushes).  With such high expectations, I knew a disappointment was inevitable, I just didn’t think it was going to be quite such a let down.

Anna - 7

So Como Se Taco and Honest Abe’s both have the same owners.  Honest Abe’s was amazing, so I had really high expectations coming to Como Se Taco.  I decided to be adventurous on my order and I got the Peanut Gallery taco as a rice bowl.  So I had a bed of rice with thai peanut sauce, thai basil, tamarind veggie slaw, and peanuts.  It was a really inventive, fresh blend of ingredients.  Some of the rice was rock solid, but the other ingredients made up for it.  But when I compare it to Honest Abe’s, it’s not as good.  Not quite as inventive, not quite as satisfying.  But hey, that’s a really high standard to match.  I also got a cucumber lemonade, and it was so freaking delicious.  It was sweet and sour but still refreshing.  Totally worth the almost 3 dollar price tag.

Anna's Rice Bowl and Lemonade

Price

Sarah - 9

I spent just over $4 for my taco, chips and salsa.  The cashier told me my order total and I almost started laughing.  She had warned me that the taco was small, and the shell really was very small.  However, they had packed a ton of rice, chicken, cheese, and lettuce into this tiny taco that I wasn’t unimpressed with it’s tiny size.  It really was a great amount of food for under $5.  There were other, pricier options (see Anna’s price) but the amount of food is significantly more, too.  It’s nice to know, however, that you can successfully have a meal for $4 or spend all the way up to $15.

Anna - 8

For the rice bowl and the lemonade, it was just over 10 dollars.  That seemed a little steep to me when I saw the size of the portions, but the quality of the ingredients is clearly very high.  Going to Como Se Taco is a treat, and not something I can afford often.

Service 

Sarah - 9

Anna and I ordered our dinners within a few seconds of each other, but hers came out Jimmy John’s quick (I like her anecdote) and mine followed close to five minutes later.  I would have liked it a little better if our food had come out at the same time since we were dining there together.  It’s always awkward to sit there waiting for your friend’s food while your mouth is watering looking down at your plate (sorry, Anna).

Anna - 10

Sarah and I were the only ones at the restaurant, so our food was super fast. I had probably been sitting for 30 seconds before my food was brought to me.  It was like Jimmy John’s fast, but much better food in the end result.

Atmosphere

Sarah - 10

I think one of the things I loved most about this restaurant, despite it being tiny, was how open it felt.  The walls were white and the chairs were red, the tables were wooden, but it felt like there was plenty of room for many people to be eating all at the same time.  Anna and I were the only ones in the restaurant for a while, until a family of four came in.  They sat close to us, but I didn’t feel crowded at all.

Anna - 10

Holy cow this place looks so cool.  The metal chairs and stools looked very old fashioned, but they were painted white so they had a modern feel.  There were really cool single lightbulb lights that  hanging from the ceiling, and the wall opposite from the door was a fresh white with the name in colorful writing.  Overall it was very fresh and modern, but still comfortable.

Convenience of Location

Sarah - 5

I hate that there are a couple of good places to eat all the way out on 70th and Vine.  There is absolutely NO easy way to get here.  I chose the exact wrong time to leave campus (5:15pm, rush hour, real smart) and spent almost 25 minutes in the car.  It took me just under 15 minutes to get back, so that made up for it.  Just not a convenient location.

Anna - 6

This location is right next to Honest Abe’s, and if you read that review, you’d know that we had a heck of a time getting there.  We went to Como Se Taco earlier, so traffic wasn’t nearly as bad.  It’s still not convenient to get to, but it was much better.

Average - 8

Yia Yia's is a Yes

Yia Yia's Pizzeria won your votes by a landslide!  We took a nice Wednesday evening stroll down 'O' Street and grabbed a few slices of one of Lincoln's specialties.

Sarah's Rankings

Food - 9

I had only been to Yia Yia’s one other time, and I actually wasn’t very impressed the last time I went.  However, this time, I was absolutely blown away.  I started with a little side salad and before I was even finished, Anna and I heard our names being called over the speaker to let us know that our pizza was ready.  It was that fast.  We got a piece of bread with our pizza and the bread was a little bit stale.  I’m sure, though, during peak business times on the weekend, the bread would be much more fresh.  The pizza was better than amazing so the stale bread didn’t take away from my dinner at all.  I ordered a pepperoni and cream cheese piece of pizza.  What I loved about it most was that it was different than traditional pepperoni and cream cheese pizzas: the cream cheese was in a spread and not in clumps.

Price - 10

Bigger than a face!

$6.76 is what I paid for for a GIGANTIC slice of pizza (see photo, it was literally bigger than my face), a salad, a piece of bread with butter, and a drink.  Seriously, it seems like sometimes I can’t even go to a fast food restaurant and order that much food.  And as I type, nearly 6 hours after our meal, I’m still extremely full.  10/10 for sure on price for this meal!

Service - 9

While I was ordering, I wasn’t entirely confident on what exactly I was ordering.  The person taking our order was very knowledgeable in the different dressings that they offered for the side salad, the types of cheese and sauce I could put on my create-your-own slice of pizza, and he patiently waited while I dug out several pennies to pay my order in exact change.  Even though they didn’t bring our pizza right to our table, I didn’t mind walking up to the counter and grabbing my slice after they called Anna and I’s names over the loudspeaker.  

Atmosphere - 8

I’m not the biggest fan of crowded bars and loud music when I’m trying to enjoy my dinner.  I felt as though the music was a little loud, which caused other diners in the restaurant to talk louder, making it a little difficult to have a conversation.  Once we had our food, though, not much conversation was happening -- the food was too good to put down to speak.  We also had the option to eat outside, which was a great alternative.  I felt as though the restaurant was fairly clean, too, which I appreciated.

Convenience of Location - 9

Literally sitting between 14th and Centennial Mall on O Street, this restaurant took between 7 and 10 minutes for Anna and I to walk from campus.  It was great.  Because parking downtown is a pain, anyone that’s a student could easily park in their campus spot and take a little stroll to the heart of downtown Lincoln.  Depending on the day of the week, after a nice slice of pizza, hitting up any bar that is just across the street is also totally an option.  

Anna's Mediterranean Pizza

Anna's Rankings

Food - 10

Anna's Salad

I broke my own rule here.  I told myself when Sarah and I started this blog, if I ate at restaurants I had already been to, I would always get something I’ve never had before.  But at Yia Yia’s I got the same thing I order every time.  The Mediterranean pizza is the type of food you break rules for:  thin crust pizza with pesto sauce topped with sun-dried tomatoes, onions, chicken, almonds, green olives, and feta cheese.  It’s so creative that you know you’re never going to find exactly the same thing anywhere else, which is why I always get it.  The pizza comes with a slice of bread, but it’s more of a filler next to this massive slice of pizza.  I also had a salad, which had spring greens, red onions, dried cranberries, and a raspberry vinaigrette.

Price - 10

You’re probably thinking, “Wow, food that sounds that good can’t be cheap.”  Wrong.  It was a steal.  I paid just over seven bucks for a the specialty slice of pizza, salad, bread, and a pop.  My college budget is happy, ate something healthier than fast food (for about the same price), and left feeling full.

Service - 8

At Yia Yia’s you order your food at the bar, then they call your name to pick it up from the kitchen window.  I hadn’t even finished my salad (which they gave to me immediately when I ordered) when our names were called.  Ridiculously fast.  If they brought the food to us, I would rank it higher.  I always feel a little weird leaving all of my stuff behind at the table when I go to pick up my pizza, but that’s a pretty minor--and lazy--complaint.

Atmosphere - 10

I love the feel of this place.  The bar filled with their huge selection of drinks is the focal point of the restaurant.  The large french posters fill up the walls with color and make an otherwise dark restaurant feel happy.  Yia Yia’s is the kind of place where you can go in just a t-shirt or dress up.

Convenience of Location - 9

I parked on campus and it only took me about five minutes to get there.  It doesn’t get more convenient than that.  For those who don’t park on campus, there’s plenty of street parking and a few garages nearby.

Overall Ranking: 92/100

Where Should We Get Mexican Food?

Tico’s


Tico's has been a Lincoln establishment since 1976. Along with their amazing dishes, Tico's is also known for their margaritas (a definite must-have). Tico's is located on the corner of 17th and M Streets, just a few blocks south of UNL's City Campus. This is a very affordable option for any type of dining experience, whether lunch, dinner or happy hour.

Como Se Taco

Living just next to Honest Abe's at 70th and Vine Street, Como Se Taco is a restaurant that is very new to Lincoln. Even though there are just a few signature items on the menu, there is totally the option to customize the dining experience. Whether you like spicy food or 'plain Jane' food, Como Se Taco has an option for you!

El Chapparo


El Chapparo has three locations scattered throughout the city of Lincoln. This restaurant actually does not have a website but after hunting down a modified menu online, their food is extremely affordable. Offering a large variety of Mexican food to satisfy any craving, El Chapparo will have something for everyone.

El Potrero


Located down in the Haymarket, El Potrero is the place to go for a slightly more expensive and elegant Mexican dining experience. Fajitas, enchiladas, chips & salsa, and margaritas are just a few of their signatures. While El Potrero is located in Lincoln, they also have a sister restaurant called El Toro in Grand Island and Hastings.

Super Taco

Near 55th and Holdrege Street, Super Taco is Lincoln's very own home for authentic and incredibly tasty Mexican cuisine. Super Taco prides themselves on not only their food, but their service as well. They want to make sure that all customers that come to the restaurant have a great dining experience and walk away ready to come back for more.

Honest Abe's: Honestly Good

Thanks to everyone who participated in the burger poll!  The winner was Honest Abe’s, so we went and got us some burgers and freedom.

Sarah's "Greatest Burger Ever"

Sarah’s Rankings

Food - 10

The last time I ate at Honest Abe’s was about a year and a half ago, and I have to say, this time I was absolutely blown away.  The burger was cooked perfectly and the parmesan truffle fries I made Anna split with me were totally amazing.  I ordered the “Greatest Burger Ever” and I really have to say it exceeded my expectations.  It had the standard 6 oz patty along with applewood bacon, grilled onions (which I asked to be held), romaine, American cheese, awesome sauce (really was awesome), and ketchup.  I’m not as brave as Anna when it comes to adventurous food, but this hamburger was phenomenal.

Price - 8

I felt as though the price of the hamburger, $7.75 was a touch on the pricey side, however once I took the first bite, it was worth every penny.  Splitting fries was a much more economic way to enjoy them; they were $1.50 each.  Although it was a little more expensive than I would have liked, I didn’t think that it was overpriced for the quality.

Service - 10

On top of us visiting the restaurant during the dinner hour, the restaurant being fairly busy, and me messing up while I ordered, my food was delivered just as I wanted.  I had forgotten to ask for my burger well-done while I was ordering so that cashier had to go into the back and tell the cooks.  I was worried the request wouldn’t translate, but I got a perfectly cooked burger when my order was delivered.  They also delivered our food right to our table, which I actually really appreciated.  Saved me from needing to slide out of the booth to fetch my hamburger.

Atmosphere - 10

What basically looked like a brand new restaurant was seriously so much bigger than before.  This new restaurant had about three times the amount of tables that the old restaurant used to house.  It felt much more spacious.  I also noticed that it wasn’t Antarctica in the building -- I hate going to restaurants and constantly freezing.  The temperature in Honest Abe’s was totally comfortable.

Convenience of Location - 4

From campus, Honest Abe’s is a solid 15 minute drive.  Driving through the tail-end of rush hour, however, caused me to be sitting in traffic to closer to 20 minutes.  There is no quick way to get there and the speed limit is 35mph the whole way down Vine Street.  While it only takes about three turns from the heart of campus, it definitely would be more convenient if they had a location closer to campus!

Anna’s Rankings

Anna's "Hair of the Dog"

Food - 10

I’ve been a long time fan of Honest Abe’s, and I usually get the 1809 burger, my personal favorite.  However, Honest Abe’s just released their new rotating menu, so I had to try something new.  I got the “Hair of the Dog,” which includes cheddar, bourbon bacon apple jam, kettle chips, and crunchy peanut butter.  Wow.  It was a grown-up PB and J with a little added crunch on a burger.  Lights out delicious.  I was a little concerned about about the chips being too greasy, but they were just a nice crunch and not too much.  I also split parmesan truffle fries with Sarah, and those held up to the yum factor of the burger, so you know they were good.

Price - 9

I paid about 10 dollars for a gourmet burger and dressed up fries.  That’s more than reasonable.  Granted, you have to buy the fries separately, and it would be more convenient if it all came together.  In the end, I don’t think I’m overpaying for anything.

Service - 10

OK, so Honest Abe’s doesn’t have waiters, but the food got to us quickly.  We went around 6:15 or 6:30, and they were relatively busy.  I was impressed it was that fast during prime dinner hours.

Atmosphere - 10

It was my first time at Honest Abe’s new location.  Previously, they were in a much smaller place that didn’t have nearly enough seating.  I often felt like other people were hovering over me waiting for my table.  This new location is HUGE.  I’d say double the size, and they have a patio.  The hover factor was gone, but they still have the same clean, minimalist, yet americana vibe to the place.  Talk about an upgrade.

Convenience of Location - 2

I told Sarah I was going to give it a -2 when it took me 25 minutes to get there.  This location couldn’t be more out of the way for me, as it’s on the complete opposite side of Lincoln and there is no road/highway/interstate that can get me there quickly. However, I know dinner time falls during rush hour, and it only took me 15 minutes to get home. Again, I’ve been a fan of Honest Abe’s for a very long time, but I would eat it far more often if it had a location downtown or in south Lincoln.

Guest Rankings

Abbey's "Bounty Hunter"

When you post a poll asking where you should eat burgers next week, you also get friends who ask if they can tag along.  We welcome company, as long as they score along with us.  Friends Abbey and Alexis, both got the “Bounty Hunter” burger with pineapple, grilled salami, BBQ sauce, and roasted garlic and onion cream cheese.

Abbey

Food - 8

Price - 6

Service - 8

Atmosphere - 9

Convenience of Location - 5

Alexis

Food - 9

Price - 5

Service - 7

Atmosphere - 10

Convenience of Location - 6

Average - 156/200